SENEGAL, a colony of French West Africa; between the Sahara and the Gam bia river; extends from the Atlantic on the W. to the French Sudan on the E.; area, 74,112 square miles. The name Senegambia, which is not used by the French, has been applied to this region, being compounded from the names of the rivers, Senegal and Gambia, between which it lies. Gold, silver, copper, and quicksilver are found. Much of the soil is rich. The natives cultivate millet, maize, and rice; other products are gums, castor-beans, ground nuts, cocoanuts, rub ber, and kola. The native industries are weaving and the making of bricks, pot tery, and jewelry. A railway connects the coast towns of Dakar and St. Louis; another line runs from Kayes on the coast, toward the upper Niger.
Government.—For administrative pur poses the colony is divided into four com munes; St. Louis (the capital and resi dence of the governor of West Africa), Dakar (chief port, pop. 25,468), Goree, and Rufisque. In October, 1899, a portion
of the West Sudan was placed under the same administration as Senegal. The imports in 1919 were valued at about $16,000,000, and the exports at about $14,000,000.
History.—The French first settled Senegal in 1626. It was taken by the English in 1758, retaken by the French in 1779, and subsequently held by the English till the peace of 1814. The settle ments languished till the appointment of General Faidherbe as governor in 1854. He began a most vigorous line of action, subdued the Berber chiefs who prevented the French advance inland, and annexed their territories. This policy was pur sued in the same spirit by subsequent governors; districts were annexed and protectorates proclaimed with extraordi nary celerity, though the two powerful chiefs Ahmadou and Samory occasioned them a great deal of trouble, 1887-1890. Pop. (1919) 1,204,113.